There was another wave of silence in the network. This time, it wasn’t due to waiting for another recommendation, but because everyone was processing how the suggested plan could be advantageous, how it might be implemented, how it could potentially backfire, what adjustments were necessary, and whether a better alternative existed. "Although it’s crude, the plan has some usable parts that can work for now," Zorvas finally said, breaking the contemplative silence.Following his comment, the network quickly began to generate suggestions for modifying the proposed plan. With their collective mental connection, the modifications happened at an impressive speed. Within about twenty minutes, the original plan was barely recognizable, having undergone several significant revisions.The higher-ups then carefully reviewed the final version to ensure no critical aspects had been overlooked, although it was unlikely at this point. After the review, Liasas spoke up, "I'll take care of informing
The situation on the field remained largely unchanged, with both sides maintaining their strategies. The opposing forces, however, began to shift tactics, focusing on conserving their weaponry. This cautious approach lasted until the early hours of the seventh day, when an unexpected change unfolded, altering the course of the battle.{Sir, they are attempting to initiate communications with us,} Nova's voice echoed, pulling Aron's attention away from the display tracking the war's intricate data streams.Aron paused for a moment, processing the unexpected shift. "Okay, that wasn’t on the top of my list. So, what are they trying to communicate to us?"{They are suggesting we initiate a temporary cease-fire in order to discuss what they want to propose,} Nova replied, materializing the contract in front of him. The terms were clear: the cease-fire would take effect the moment the agreement was signed, halting all hostilities for either one week or until a settlement was reached, whiche
"From forcing nation leaders to sign surrender agreements to now signing a ceasefire agreement with aliens on behalf of the empire—who would’ve thought all this would happen in less than a decade?" an alluring woman remarked as she disembarked from her ship. The ship's tractor beam engaged, gently guiding her toward the designated location for the signing.She was a member of Nyx, one of the few who had been active even before the Unification War, and despite the ceasefire not yet being in effect, she showed no signs of nervousness. In fact, she seemed excited—not at the risk of an accidental firing ending her life, but because of what this ceasefire hinted at. The signing of this agreement suggested the possibility of a larger peace, and an end to the conflict. And what followed would be a battlefield of intelligence gathering, one of a scale previously never imagined. This prospect thrilled her far more than any conventional war ever could.Although she had always enjoyed her work,
“We should ensure that, regardless of the outcome, we do not fully join the Astral Conclave and remain mutually beneficial allies. That way, we retain the freedom to communicate and trade with all civilizations without restrictions, which will allow us to expand as quickly as possible,” Youssef reiterated, echoing his earlier stance from when the issue was confined to Xalthar’s ship.“Our sovereignty must be maintained, with a strict prohibition on enslaving our citizens as another non-negotiable,” Jeremy added. As the Minister of the Interior, his primary concern was the protection of the empire's people, while Youssef’s focus, as an external strategist, was ensuring the empire’s position was safeguarded from the perspective of outside entities.{Free trade agreement. On the surface, it might seem like they are the only ones benefiting from this, but it will mark the beginning of their loss of trade dominance in the Conclave to the empire,} Nova interjected, fully aware of Aron's lon
‘Something’s not right,’ Liasas said in her mind as Aron spoke about possibly altering the terms of the deal to make it either individualistic or a mixture of both.‘Why do you think so?’ Xylor, the Zelvora fleet commander, asked, connected to her through the mental network, after sensing her concern.‘I’m sure some of their soldiers managed to breach a few of the top ten civilizations' ships and encountered some of our strong individuals that wiped out their forces. Yet the man in front of me doesn’t seem the least bit concerned about what signing this agreement could mean. And from the speed at which he’s negotiating, it’s clear he’s not just stalling—he genuinely wants to reach an agreement quickly. It’s... strange,’ Liasas responded, sharing her suspicion with the fleet commander.She still didn’t know the name or rank of the individual standing before her. He had introduced himself simply as the negotiator, offering no further details before launching into the empire’s list of de
"I like them for their boldness and straightforwardness, and I’ll respect them if they can back it up," a Xor'Vak representative remarked during the meeting, openly expressing his thoughts without restraint. Whether it was a feeling of admiration or disgust, the Xor'Vak never hid their true feelings. This attitude stemmed from the immense power they possessed, allowing them to speak the truth without fear of consequences. As one of the strongest races in the Conclave, they saw no need for deception, earning them a reputation for being brutally honest.When the rest of the room heard his words, "surprised" would have been an understatement. Earning the respect of a Xor'Vak was as difficult as turning mana into mist form. They only respected those they deemed their equals, making it nearly impossible for most members of the Conclave to even dream of such recognition. Though he stated that respect would only come if they proved themselves, the very declaration was significant—it meant
Aron could be seen reviewing the new basic agreement proposed by the Conclave with little to no change of expression. "We accept it," he said, once he finished going through it, not bothering to suggest any modifications.“It’s good that we can agree on something,” Liasas said, her tone calm but unsurprised by Aron's acceptance. The basic agreement, after all, favored the empire more than the Conclave forces, who had little choice but to comply. Despite the Conclave's united front, its members remained highly individualistic, and the stronger civilizations needed a justification for risking the lives of their best fighters. Their rationale was simple: the greater the risk, the greater the reward. As a result, the weaker civilizations, barely holding on after suffering significant losses, were left with a smaller share of benefits. With no leverage to challenge this, they were forced to accept whatever was handed to them, their situation evident as they clung to the last threads of be
Aron paid no mind to Liasas's astonished expression. After a moment of silence, he seized the opportunity to further outline his expectations from the other civilizations.“We will accept the Trinarians' demands if they agree to provide us with their knowledge of spatial manipulation, their latest wormhole technology, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated Trinarian fighters.We will agree to the Valthorin's demands if they agree to share their expertise in crafting and forging honor blades, the process of initiating a soul imprint, access to something akin to the Pride Nexus, and the body or bodies and equipment of their defeated Valthorin fighters.We will accept the Shadari’s demands if they agree to grant us their knowledge of stealth, allow us to purchase their star system-specific minerals at a twenty percent markup from the mining price, and provide the body and equipment of their defeated Shadari fighter or fighters.We will agree to the Galvinith’s demands if